Abida Shaheen
Islamabad: Indonesia this week ordered 12 M-346 F “Block 20” light combat aircraft from Italian aerospace and defence company Leonardo, marking another major step in the country’s ongoing military modernisation and efforts to strengthen its air defence capabilities.
The procurement was announced jointly by Leonardo and its Indonesian partner, PT ESystem Solutions Indonesia, reflecting Jakarta’s continued investment in modern military platforms as it upgrades its armed forces.
The acquisition follows Indonesia’s landmark agreement with French defence manufacturer Dassault Aviation in 2022 to purchase 42 Rafale fighter aircraft under a contract valued at approximately $8.1 billion, underscoring the country’s broader strategy to diversify and modernise its air combat fleet.
According to Leonardo, the M-346 F “Block 20” aircraft will perform a dual role by providing advanced multi-role combat capabilities while also serving as a state-of-the-art training platform for Indonesian Air Force pilots. The aircraft is designed to bridge the gap between basic flight instruction and front-line fighter operations, enabling pilots to transition more effectively to advanced combat aircraft.
The first deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2030 as part of a phased induction programme.
While the financial value of Indonesia’s latest order has not been officially disclosed, industry estimates suggest it could be comparable to Austria’s purchase of 12 M-346 aircraft in late 2025, a deal widely reported to be worth around €1.5 billion (approximately $1.7 billion).
The M-346 has become one of Leonardo’s most successful military aircraft programmes, with more than 170 units ordered worldwide. Indonesia will become the 23rd country to operate the aircraft, further expanding its global customer base.
In addition to the combat aircraft order, Indonesia has signed a letter of intent to acquire AW149 multi-role helicopters from Leonardo for the Indonesian Navy.
The helicopters are expected to enhance maritime capabilities by supporting search and rescue operations, disaster response and civil protection missions, while also providing greater operational flexibility across Indonesia’s vast archipelagic territory.
The twin procurement decisions reflect Indonesia’s emphasis on developing a more capable and versatile defence force amid evolving regional security dynamics and growing operational demands. By combining advanced fighter training, combat capability and expanded naval aviation assets, Jakarta aims to strengthen both national defence preparedness and humanitarian response capabilities.
The latest agreements also deepen defence-industrial cooperation between Indonesia and Italy, adding to Jakarta’s growing network of international defence partnerships as it continues to modernise its military across land, air and maritime domains.